Heartbreak for Sheffield boxer

Bob Westerdale

Waleed Din failed in his bid to become Sheffield's latest boxing champion tonight.

He lost to Sunderland-based Cameroonian Thomas Essomba in a flyweight Commonwealth title contest at the Magna Centre, Rotherham.

Promoter Dennis Hobson and Waleed Din

The 22 year old former ABA champion spent much of the contest on the floor - with Essomba dragging and pushing him down with alarming frequency.

Din continually appealed to the referee, but it was clear that Essomba, 27, was executing the better punches as well as winning the trial of strength.

In the 11th round Din, who was looking for his eighth straight win, was given two standing counts of eight before his trainer threw in the towel.

He now has to go back to the drawing board,

On the plus side, Manor Park's Liam Cameron, chief support on the packed 13-fight bill, made quick work of George Beroshvilli, from Georgia, who was stopped by Martin Murray in his last fight in the UK.